The Housekeeper Who Stole My Life

my building's security to never, under any circumstances, allow Mrs. Jenkins on the premises. I was

ngs. When I returned late one evening, exhausted from the f

y kitchen, wiping down the cou

gage handle digging into my pa

er face. "Well, look who's ba

ight with a mixture of shock and rage. "I told se

agency was in a bind, so they called me. They know I'm dependable. And you're still on my clie

ain was truly breathtaking. She was trespassing, and

itcase with a thud. "You are not welcome in my home. I have the right to r

es with exaggerated slowness. "No need to be so ho

from the counter. "That'll be

ty? The service is supposed to be ninety

oothly. "Premium rates apply. Plus, I did some extra

ver again, just a different verse of the same song. She would never

at. "There's no emergency rate. You

m going to call the agency right now and

had when I'd looked up the price of the hand

ing the paper in her fist. "I must have misremembe

attempt at fraud. This is the third time, Mrs. Jenkins. First t

e with it. If you ever, and I mean ever, set foot in this building again, I won't call

he first time, she seemed to understand that I was completely

coat and purse and practically ran out

e, I didn't hold back. I told the manager everything, from the extortion attempts to the repeated scams. She was h

eling of finality. This time,

saw her. She was standing by the entrance of the complex, talking to a group of my

ef. The women were patting her arm, looking at her with sympat

s sobbing. "...after all I did for her. These yo

me. Her friendly expression soure

s she'd threatened. She was poisoning my community against me, painting me as a cruel, hea